Don't get cocky.....

I was pretty full of myself last week.....bragging about how I managed to get 3 post written. Well this is a lesson on not getting too full of yourself cause look at me now.

Wednesday. 5 days of nothing. Yep....not feeling too cocky now. The truth of the matter is I might have just a few too many "irons in the fire" as they say.

I'm not complaining, but between you and me....I think those clothes are STILL in the dryer.

I'm so excited about the fireplace mantel and surround. It is awesome and they LOVE it! I am waiting for the room to be painted before I show you the finished image. I can be mean like that sometime.

As I said, this house was built in the 80's.....think Jane Fonda and leggings.

Since she has [the client, not Jane Fonda] 4 kids we concentrated on small updates in the bathrooms first. Can you say carpet......yuk????

Yep. Dark green tile.

This is her only daughters room.

We had the tile guy dig out that green stripe and replace with black [not grouted yet]

Easy fix.

One of the boys bathrooms. There was already 1/2 of the room with this white tile and it came from Home Depot....so just matched it. To the left of the toilet was just wasted space. We did this...

It is the perfect toilet paper holder. What???? You say it is a little large for that? OK...we will throw in some towels too.

This is the kids playroom.

Bookcases....window seat. New carpet. Beadboard on the walls.

Mudroom/laundry room. There was a fridge in this hole. Ugly tile floor.

This is how the hole came to live a long and full life. She made herself useful!

Whoops...when I like something....the same "honed" slate tile. We have great plans for this room but I need your help on this one problema.....look to the right...that huge window.

What to put in there.....some thoughts....

cafe curtains...some pretty topiaries? She said she does NOT have a green thumb. But I said...please. The faucet is right there. Just give them a squirt every now and then.

Now...this is where I need your HELP! I told them to remove this island right now, especially since they are having the floors redone. Take the hardwood all the way in the kitchen. NOW. You must tell her also.....please help a sister out.

Begging here.

Think of the dust and disruption if they save this until after they move in. I have some great plans on how to fix this kitchen that I will share with you.

This is the kind of stuff I obsess over. Sleepless nights thinking about this one little issue. Dreaming of going over there and doing it myself.

51 comments

Anonymous
said...

Does the laundry room window overlook the pool or some other pretty place in the yard? If so, I would skip the curtains. What about a vintage wash pail or tub (from Scotts) filled with plants or herbs? Or a big foot bath you could take to Boxwoods and have them work their magic with some sun loving plants.

Maureen in Decautur

p.s. I'm supposed to be doing my laundry right now, but this is much more fun!

wow, what a tease...so much potential in that pool house alone...YOUR CLIENT MUST RIP OUT THAT ISLAND AND LISTEN TO YOU!!!!THEY WILL NEVER FORGIVE THEMSELVES IF THEY DON"T! MUST. Hardward floors for kitchen, topiaries, all of it...

By all means GET RID OF THAT ISLAND! Is it seriously even a question? I dont mean to be so abrupt but its almost a 911 emergency....it reeks of "70's Brady Bunch era"......it will never be a choice you will look back on with regret, I promise you that!Looks like there is loads of potential and its going to be fun to watch things progress!The poolhouse looks like a fun project!

Coming from a fellow plant killer, I can't stress enough that topiaries are a bad idea. Maybe a decorative tureen or something.I agree with you on the island. I have ugly flooring but I know there is no point in doing anything until we are ready for the kitchen redo.

PLEASE you guys! Ideas on that window, PLEASE!! I have been dealing with an identical set up for EIGHT years and I've not solved it yet! Tried an herb garden, which was my intent when I built the darn thing. That didn't work out....too far to reach to water and that squirty thing makes a mess when you just shoot it. So then I got the idea to add a collection of antique wooden tool boxes filled with antique-y stuff. Dust collectors. My cleaning guy almost quit over that.

Now it's empty with the exception of a lamp. And the sucker is huge....7' wide, 18" deep, 5' tall. Sherry, if your readers solve this for me...ummmmm....your client :-) I'll put together a prize package that rivals your wonderful give-aways. Serious.

Sheri, The island has to go! Tell her it is just ugly.... It looks like an outside barbecue. I would also make the window in the kitchen bigger. It looks like she could use the light.Everything is coming along beautifully.

Yes. Good grief. Get rid of that hideous island. And yes to hardwood in the kitchen. I've got wood floors in my kitchen. Easy to care for. Damp mop works great. And much better than the knock-off of some 60s movie with Rock Hudson and Doris Day. Sorry. Harsh but true.

OH YES...that island MUST GO! Wood floors for sure. For the space above the sink...how about some functional roman shades (no curtains) on the windows and an earthy type vessel with some dried hydrangeas purely for aesthetics...herbs and other such things look tacky after a while if not tended to!Can't wait to see!

Buh Bye island!!!!! NOT AN OPTION! tell her we'll hog tie her so you can get it done! For the window... a collection of demi johns? moss balls? People without green thumbs, like me, kill topiaries. So beautiful as they are, not gonna fly.

Remove the island and the tile! It's like leaving the elephant in the room! I've written a blog post titled just that. Don't leave big things in your updated space that will bring everything else down. You've done a great job here, Sherry!

My note to your client: "Trust Sherry - just look at what she has done in your home so far! She is 100% right in suggesting that you remove the island and continue the wood flooring into the kitchen. It will make your house flow and you will not regret it."

I agree that they should remove the island now and, extend the wood floor. Floor refinishing is a little messy and smelly, best to get it done and over with once - and I'm sure they won't miss looking at that island. We refinished our floors about a year ago - so nice now!

BE GONE, WRETCHED ISLAND! Extending the wooden floors will be well worth it.

Regarding the mudroom: if it were my house I would seriously consider reconfiguring the whole room and consider a large apron front sink built into the window space, French style open shelving to replace the wall cabinets; and an appropriately scaled island for storage and workspace.

I can honestly say that is the ugliest island I have ever seen in my life. For the owner to even consider keeping it only proves how badly she needs your help. Tell her to concentrate on whatever she does for a living and leave the design decisions to you! It's going to look fantastic!!,

Love what's going on. Can't wait to see how it plays out. DEFINATELY get rid of the island. Seriously. It's time.As for the window, how about putting a glass shelf across it and display a pretty plate collection or mercury glass candle holders. It would be pretty at night with the candles flickering. I use faux tealights with timers so I don't even have to worry about lighting anything.

I am liking what I see Sherry...looking good! for the kitchen window, maybe some kinda big old metal tub or a flowerbox made out of beadboard.. but maybe with preserved boxwoods or other flowers, like Brian does at Scott's with a cafe curtain behind it???? just thinkin....

Well lots of goodies here today. If it makes you feel any better I have a load of clothes in the washer (24 hours)...Love all of the great progress on the house. My favorite room...the playroom!! Love all of the elements used - the window seat, the beadboard, the bookcases, something other than the carpet...love it all!! Oh yes, and please get rid of the island!!!

Why do they not just listen and do everything you say?! Yes- remove island - extend hardwood floors - duh? -Just do everything that Sherry tells you to do! What an awesome house - forget the pool house - I'll take the mudroom! Loving that tile in the girl's bathroom - fun and timeless = perfection!

I think the window treatment should be a simple roman shade with a Greek Key Trim. The window treatment should start at the ceiling and just skirt the top of the windows to cover.I would get some garden type urns and put orchids in the urns. The orchids are reasonable as far as price and low maintenance. I have recently purchased some from Wal-Mart for $14 each. They only require watering once every 7-10 days depending on the amount of light she gets from the window. If the orchid die...replace them. I will forward pictures of what I am talking about.Looking good...can't wait to see the finished product!

OK, I haven't looked at the other comments, but I'll bet you have 36 people before me, supporting your efforts! FORGET THE KIDS ROOM, EVERYTHING ELSE UNTIL YOU DEAL WITH THIS KITCHEN! Run, don't walk, to your nearest sledge hammer and get that tile out of there. And is that real brick? Color it gone! See you can let us be the nasty ones, and you can be your sweet old self! Leave it to the professionals and you'll be happy-ever-after! How about a little "pot" farm, growing in the window. Tell the kids it's parsley! I've never grown it, but if a silly pot-head can grow it...it can't be that hard!

Seriously, is there really any debate about the kitchen island? Bye bye! Sorry, homeowner, no intention to offend, but here's another designer saying "out with it!" It's definitely holding up a beautiful space just wanting to shine!

what does the kitchen window look out on? maybe some very sheer roman shades that she could pull down and put something decorative there. of course it looks like it was made for plants but it could be just as pretty with a glass bottle collection or wonderful crocks. or hullware planters sans the plants.FIX that kitchen now, is she CRAZY--

No question about the island it needs to go along with the brick. If it is an option I would remove the window and put in a larger flat window. I really think it would be worth the expense. The window was a add-on, probably and I would look into that for sure. If it is not an option I would put 3 large demijohns and no window covering. A filler that is see through and reflective, gives shape but not solid. IMHO, Kathysue

Did you see the bay window in the kitchen Maryann @ classic. casual. home. just showed? That's my vote! Wouldn't it be sad if your homeowner was asked what is your one regret in life...and she said "keeping that island!" :)

Ooo! Yeah - ditto the classic-casual-home window today. Especially the stick shades. If she has a sense of humor (it's the laundry room - free to express herself) "carpet" it with faux lawn and find one great ie: large garden ornament/sculpture. Anything from a copper weather vane to an antique gnome. Her love of shoes = copy one of her favorites (or flashy-est) in mosaic blown up extra large.She'll be so distracted with joy you can tear out the island with out her noticing (just get lawyer hubby to sign off on it first). ;-)Cheers!

This is such a great house and it's full of potential and possibilities! I agree that the island must go, it's too small and looks very outdated.

For the windows near the faucet area, you may ask your client to grow some orchids. I don't have a green thumb but orchids are very hardy. They won't die even if you don't water them for a month. (I went for a vacation for a month and it's still there) :)

I hope that island is history by now. Shudder.My idea for the window, since they don't want plants, would be those big glass storage jars with glass lids, and put things like clothespins, stones/rocks or shells, etc in them. I keep podered borax in one, but accessing them in the window might be difficult and/or messy.